Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-11-17
MRS. 1EAv1rr's WORK IN stSeApor


MRS. IEAVIrT's work IN SINGAPORE.
Editor Union Sig,tal:-A few words
from far-off Singapore may not be un-
acceptable to those of you in particular
who are watching the progress of your
missionary, Mrs. M. C. Leavitt. We
had the pleasure and profit of sister
Leavitt's presence with us last March.
Several meetings were held at various
points, the most notable of which were
perhaps, one held at session of the
Singapore Debating Society at which
members of the society were permitted
to argue per contra, etc. After a few
OF them made the attempt to rebut the
statements made by Mrs. Leavitt in
one of the finest temperance adj
dresses l have heard and after that few
had been completely 'sequelched" by
sister Leayitt in reply, a great silence
fell upon the society. They were gla d
to get away, though at the next ses-
sion the defenders of the drink COM
pletely vindicated their position IN.
b. Mrs. Leavitt had moved on from
Singapore. The other notable meet
ing held by Mrs. Leavitt was a gather
ing of Chinese merchants in my school
room. The effects of that address has
been most marked. A prominent
Chinese gentleman told me last week
that the amount of spirit drinking at
the Chinese club was reduced one-half
and the members are often heard quot
ing Mrs. Leayitt's positions against
each others drinking habits.
Last night the first public meeting Of
the local branch was held at the town
Hall. A great tea-meeting at which
there were over 800 people-a great
gathering for Singapore-occupied the
first part of the evening This was
followed by a program of music and
addresses. The secretary, Mrs. Old
ham read the report-the first time
lady was ever known to do anything
before such a congregation in this
place.
The ravages of liquor are something
awful here, The drink custom grows
among the Chinese. The large major
ity of church members are moderate
drinkers" and are, in the main, hostile
to temperance as kind of being
righteous over-much." There is GER
tainly room and call for the most ear
nest work. When, someday, you bring
your president, Miss Willard, around
the world, we shall welcome her with
great enthusiasm at Singapore, and
the little local branch will, we trust, be
a goodly sized institution by that time.
Yours in all service for the master,
w. F. OLDHAM.
Singapore, S. s., June IS. 1887,
THE FORGOTTEN CAUSE OF POVERTY.
[Dr. Howard Crosby. in the Forum1
The ten thousand liquor saloons of
New York swallow up the earnings of
the poor, that otherwise might provide
comfortable homes and centers of tam
lily virtue and enjoyment. There is not
so great an evil in the community as
these saloons. They are kept by idle,
worthless characters who make their
money with no effort, who know moth
ing of honest labor themselves, and
would willingly destroy all honest la
Dor in others for their persona! gain.
II government has the right and duty
to cut off the source of crime and mis-
cry, it certainly has tho paramount
duty of DISCRIMINATING these prolific
fountains of social poison. 1t is safe
to estimate the receipts of the New
York saloons at S3O,000,000 a year,
one-half of which at least comes from
$50, 0G0 men who are known as "labor-
ing men, title which, like that of
working men, IS mlSnomer, Tor
there are men who work far more
in exhausting labor than these do. to
whom the title is just as appropriate.
Poverty is thus Systematically manu-
featured by these vile dens where the
communists, anarchists, and other dem
agogues gather to accuse the rich and
industrious of causing the distress of
the poor.
Was there ever q more complete
endorsement of the truth? The de-
struction of the liquor saloons alone
would cure four-fifths of the poverty in
the community.
SCORE ONE.
A year ago we announced that we
were going to do our level best to COM
pei the insurance companies Of Ameri-